Jay Brannan - Rob Me Blind [Official Music Video]

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - THE BEST OF EVERYTHING

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - OUT OF THE PAST

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - ALL ABOUT EVE - 100th Epis...

I am so very happy to wish Steve Hayes congratulations on his 100th episode of the Tired Old Queen at the Movies. Steve, if we ever meet I want to sit down with you and just listen to you talk for hours about the movies I love.

Google Exodus - Passover movie

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - BALL OF FIRE

I love this movie!

Mary Poppins

I was lucky enough to see Mary Poppins last night at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. I had heard some great things about it but having watched the movie so many times I wondered how they would pull it off. I have to say, it was fantastic! They did a wonderful job. The changes they had to make because you just can't recreate Disney Magic were awesome. In some ways I feel like it could be an improvement on the original. The sets and lighting were amazing. Great songs, great cast. Loved it all.

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - REAP THE WILD WIND

Currently Watching - Knight and Day (2010)

I am not a huge fan of either Cameron Diaz or Tom Cruise but so far I am really enjoying this movie. And, I must say, Miss Cruise is looking pretty fine!

The film follows the adventures of Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), a spy on the run, and June Havens (Cameron Diaz), a car refurbisher. Miller is seen watching Havens, and he bumps into her a couple of times as they go through security at Wichita Airport. Havens is making her way back home to Boston from Wichita, Kansas after picking up spare parts for her deceased father's classic Pontiac GTO car, that she is restoring for her sister as a wedding gift. Even though she has a confirmed reservation for her flight, she is told at the gate that it is overbooked. Miller, able to board, whispers to her that "sometimes things happen for a reason". Unbeknownst to Havens, Federal agent Fitzgerald (Peter Sarsgaard) is monitoring Miller's movements and, believing she is working with Miller, puts her back on the flight list.
On board the flight, Havens notices that there are only four or five other people present. She relaxes with a drink, and chats about her dream of someday driving to Cape Horn while Miller checks out the other passengers. She is charmed, and goes to the restroom to freshen up. While she is occupied, Miller is attacked by the remaining passengers and crew. Miller kills them all, including the pilots. After she emerges from the restroom Miller calmly informs her that everyone onboard is dead. Thinking that he is joking, Havens plays along until Miller enters the cockpit. In a spell of turbulence, she notices the dead bodies falling over in their seats, and spilling into the aisle. Miller lands the plane on a highway, but skids off the road into a corn field trying to avoid a semi-trailer Truck. Miller gives Havens a drink, and explains that she may be questioned by various officials. She is not to get in any vehicle with them, nor accompany them if they suggest taking her away to a "safe" place. Havens passes out due to a knock-out drug in the drink, but awakes at home amongst clues that Miller brought her there, ensuring her safety.
Havens struggles through the day trying on bridesmaid dresses for her sister, April's (Maggie Grace) wedding. Talking over what to do with their dad's GTO car Havens is shocked to learn that April wants to sell it. She is lured out of the shop and is accosted by a group seeming to be FBI special agents who, with assurances that she will be safe, drive her away. She is shown some files pertaining to Miller, and is questioned by the agents to determine if she is working with him. Suddenly, Miller shows up, and with much shooting and acrobatics, "rescues" Havens.

Havens doesn't know who or what to believe and flees to the firehall, where her former boyfriend, Rodney (Marc Blucas), works as a firefighter. Upon hearing her story he thinks she is merely stressed from the wedding, and takes her out for pie. While they are chatting, Miller arrives and kidnaps Havens. He handcuffs her and shoots Rodney in the leg, telling him this will all turn him into an overnight hero and virtually guarantee his desired promotion to lieutenant.
Miller explains that Havens is safer with him; and Havens agrees to follow him as they go to pick up Simon Feck (Paul Dano), a genius inventor who created a perpetual energy battery called the Zephyr. They arrive at a safe house in Brooklyn where he left Feck. He is missing, but has left clues that he can be found on a train in Austria. The two are immediately ambushed by men belonging to Antonio (Jordi Mollà), a Spanish arms dealer. After Miller again drugs Havens, she drifts in and out of consciousness between their capture and escape from Antonio's men. Miller brings her to an island that is off the grid, which he calls his home. After leaving Miller in frustration to wander the island, Havens notices a message on Miller's cell phone with a Boston address. While studying this, her cell phone rings, showing her sister's caller ID. In answering the phone, she accidentally leads Antonio's group to the hideaway. They try to kill Miller and Havens with a remote drone.
Again knocking out Havens, this time with a neck pinch, Miller transports them to a train heading through the Alps. Havens awakes alone and, missing a message from Miller, leaves to get breakfast in the dining car where she encounters Bernhard (Falk Hentschel), a German assassin whom she believes is Feck. When she finds the message stuck to the bottom of her shoe, she realizes that Feck is with Miller, and Bernhard is someone else. Using tricks learned from Miller, Havens manages to survive, and Bernhard is eventually knocked out of a window by Miller and killed by a train coming from the opposite direction.
Miller puts Havens and Feck up in a hotel in Salzburg, Austria, and heads to a meeting with a mysterious beautiful woman. Havens follows him, and hears him make a deal to sell the Zephyr to Antonio. Havens is picked up by the CIA and meets the director of counter-intel, who confirms that Miller is a rogue agent, and gives her a pen transmitter to signal them when she is with Miller and the Zephyr. Miller meets her back at the hotel, and shows her the Zephyr, which is now showing signs of overheating. Havens uses the pen to notify the agents, which Miller notes "hurts more than I thought it would," but Miller escapes to the roof-tops. After leading the CIA agents on a chase, Miller is apparently shot and falls into the Salzach River. His body is not recovered, nor is the Zephyr.
Havens is sent home by the agents in time to stand at her sister's wedding. When Havens hears the song that Miller used as his ring-tone, she heads to the address she remembered from his iPhone. She meets the people at the address, and realizes that they are Miller's parents. Havens learns that Miller's real name is Matthew Knight and the couple believe their son, a former Army Ranger Captain and Eagle Scout, is dead, and they are fabulously wealthy from winning lotteries and sweepstakes they don't remember entering. They mention that their son was an excellent swimmer who could hold his breath for an amazing length of time, which leads Havens to realize Miller is still alive.
Havens leaves the Knights, and calls her own voice mail, leaving a message that she has the Zephyr. She is quickly captured by Antonio's men and taken to Spain. She is drugged with truth serum, which makes her relaxed and happy and leads her to reveal that Miller feigned his selling of the Zephyr and his death to allow her to return home. Antonio realizes that she doesn't have the Zephyr, and the only way he can get the device is to pay Fitzgerald who has kidnapped Feck. Miller has been following Feck using a tracking app on his iPhone, and stumbles upon Havens in the Spaniard's compound. Havens is rescued as she is being taken out for execution. Under the influence of the truth serum, she admits to Miller that she wants to have sex. After telling her to hydrate to rid herself of the effects, Haven believes Miller isn't happy to see her. He walks over to her in the midst of gunfire, says he is happy, and kisses her. They pursue Fitzgerald and Feck on a motorcycle, while eluding Antonio's men during the Running of the Bulls, during which Antonio is trampled to death by some bulls.
Fitzgerald is able to escape in an amphibious plane with the now extremely hot Zephyr while Miller is hit in the chest by a bullet as he saves Feck. Feck comments that the battery is unstable. As they watch the plane climb, the battery explodes, killing Fitzgerald.
Miller collapses from the gunshot wound, but wakes in a hospital. He receives an apology from the director (Viola Davis), who tells him that he rooted out a corrupt team. He asks about Havens, and is told that she has returned home. He is warned that he can't be distracted, and must forget her to continue with his job. The Director also explains to Miller that the agency will "transfer you to a secure facility tomorrow, for your safety" using the same wording that he warned Havens about. As they leave, a nurse enters, and gives Miller his medication. Miller realizes that he's been drugged, but then sees that the nurse is Havens.
Miller comes to in the rebuilt classic car that belonged to Havens' father. After he asks what day it is, Havens kisses him and says it's someday. She drives off, traveling along a coastal road past a signpost for Cape Horn. The final scene shows Roy's mother telling her husband that they have just received two tickets to Cape Horn. Though she blames her husband for ordering them by mistake, she insists that they go.

Currently Watching - X-Men: First Class (2011)

Good movie but it is hard to think of Charles Xavier being young and partying. lol

At a World War II concentration camp in occupied Poland in 1944, scientist Dr. Klaus Schmidt observes young Erik Lensherr bend a metal gate with his mind when the child is separated from his mother. In his office, Schmidt orders Lensherr to move a coin on a desk, killing his mother when he cannot; in grief and anger, Lensherr's magnetic power manifests, killing two guards and destroying the room. Meanwhile, at a mansion in Westchester County, New York, young telepath Charles Xavier meets young shape-shifter Raven. Overjoyed to meet someone else "different", he invites her to live with his family as his foster sister.
Eighteen years later, Lensherr is tracking down Schmidt, while Xavier is graduating from Oxford University with a mutation thesis. In Las Vegas, Nevada, CIA agent Moira MacTaggert follows U.S. Army Colonel Hendry into the Hellfire Club, where she sees Schmidt (now known as Sebastian Shaw), the telepathic Emma Frost, and teleporting Azazel. Threatened by Shaw and teleported by Azazel to the War Room, Hendry advocates that the U.S. install nuclear missiles in Turkey. Shaw later kills Hendry with his energy-absorbing power.
MacTaggert, seeking Xavier's advice on mutation, convinces him and Raven to join her at the CIA, where they convince Director McCone mutants exist and Shaw is a threat. The unnamed "Man in Black Suit", another CIA executive, sponsors the mutants and invites them to the CIA's secret "Division X" facility. Xavier locates Shaw just as Lensherr is attacking him, and arrives in time to stop Lensherr from drowning as Shaw escapes. Xavier brings Lensherr to Division X, where they meet young scientist Hank McCoy, a prehensile-footed mutant, who promises Raven he will find a "cure" for their appearance. Xavier uses mutant-locating device Cerebro to find mutants to attempt to recruit against Shaw. He and Lensherr recruit stripper Angel Salvadore—along with taxi driver Armando Muñoz, Army prisoner Alex Summers, and Sean Cassidy—who code-name themselves Darwin, Havok, and Banshee, respectively—while Raven names herself Mystique. Xavier and Lensherr also attempt to recruit Wolverine, who profanely declines.
When Frost meets with a Soviet general in the USSR, Xavier and Lensherr capture her and learn of Shaw's intentions to start World War III and trigger mutant ascendency. Meanwhile, Azazel, Riptide and Shaw attack Division X, killing everyone but the mutants, and offering them the chance to join him. Angel accepts; when Darwin fights back, Shaw kills him. With the facility destroyed, Xavier takes the mutants to train at his family mansion. McCoy devises protective uniforms and a stealth jet. In Moscow, Shaw compels the general to have the Soviet Union install missiles in Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis ensues, with U.S. President John F. Kennedy instituting a blockade to stop the transfer of missiles to Cuba. Shaw, wearing a helmet that foils Xavier's telepathy, accompanies the Soviet fleet to ensure the missiles arrive.
Raven attempts to seduce Lensherr, who convinces her to embrace her mutant nature. She then refuses McCoy's cure—a cure which backfires on McCoy, rendering him a leonine beast. Though ashamed of his new appearance, he pilots the mutants and MacTaggert to the blockade line. During the ensuing battle with Shaw, Lensherr seizes Shaw's helmet, allowing Xavier to immobilize Shaw. Lensherr tells Shaw that he shares his exclusivist view of mutants, but, to avenge his mother, kills Shaw — over Xavier's objections — by forcing his Nazi Reichsmark coin through his brain.
Fearing the mutants, the fleets fire their missiles at them. In a struggle, Xavier keeps Lensherr from destroying the fleets with the missiles, but when MacTaggert fires at Lensherr, a deflected bullet hits Xavier in the spine. Lensherr, remorseful, leaves with Angel, Riptide, Azazel, and Mystique — the latter telling McCoy to "proudly" embrace his mutant status. A wheelchair-bound Xavier and his mutants return to the mansion, where he intends to open a school. MacTaggert promises never to reveal his location and they kiss; at the CIA later, she says she has no clear memory of recent events. Meanwhile, Lensherr, in a uniform with the helmet and calling himself Magneto, leads his new team into the CIA building and frees Frost from confinement.

Currently Watching - The House on Telegraph Hill (1951)

Great film with some amazing acting but the star of the film is San Francisco.

The film begins in Belsen where Victoria Kowelska reflects on the destruction of her house and family by the Nazis. Her best friend Karin tells her of her son in America and her life there. Karin dies shortly before liberation and Victoria decides to take her identity (she has her papers to help this). The major interviewing her is at first suspicious, but clearly he is attracted to her. He does not know they will later meet...
Having found her way to New York she tracks down her family ties to a house in the rich area of San Francisco known as Telegraph Hill. On discussing her background with the family lawyer, Alan Spender, he is at first suspicious but then accepts her as Karin. He proceeds to wine and dine her... then marry her. Her son has been looked after by Margaret, who clearly also has a thing for Spender but is allowed to stay. The four of them live together in the house.
Victoria (now Karin) bumps into the major who is a friend of her new husband, at a party at their house and befriends him. He is clearly in love with her too.
Tensions grow between Karin and Margaret and Margaret is dismissed after an argument. However, it then becomes clearer that it is Alan Spender who seeks to get rid of Karin, not Margaret. The car's brakes fail, almost killing Karin. At first Margaret is suspected, but this changes when it becomes clear that Karin's son was also meant to be in the car.
Motives become clearer, and Karin reports various findings to the major. Margaret is forgiven and readmitted to the house.
One night Karin is sure her orange juice has been poisoned. Alan has indeed poisoned it, and has fixed the phones so calls cannot be made. He returns to the bedroom and drinks his own glass of orange juice. He then explains his plot. Karin, who clearly still has feelings for him, tells him he has poisoned himself because she switched the glasses. She tries to telephone a doctor but can't get through. Alan explains how to fix the phones and it is left to Margaret to call. However, Margaret decides not to call. Alan dies. The police accept the sequence of events, but Margaret is taken away to be potentially charged for not calling a doctor.
Karin, having by now revealed her true identity to the major, declares her love for him and he declares his for her. But they can no longer live in the house on Telegraph Hill.

Currently Watching - Key Largo (1948)

As recommended by Steve Hayes, The Tired Old Queen at the Movies, I am watching Key Largo. It is ok but I am not a huge fan of film noir like Steve is.While I would not recommend the movie I certainly encourage you to follow Steve Hayes. The best part of this movie were Lionel Barrymore and Claire Trevor.

Ex-Major Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) visits a Key Largo hotel run by James Temple (Lionel Barrymore), the father of McCloud's World War II buddy, and his daughter-in-law Nora (Lauren Bacall), the friend's widow, to pay his respects. Temple is deep in grief over the death of his son, and is under the impression that he died a hero in Italy. McCloud does not disabuse him of this, and at Temple's urging he relates exactly the story Temple wants to hear, although it is apparent that McCloud was the actual hero. Nora later confirms this, having had a letter from her husband with the true story.
McCloud finds out that the visitors who are staying at the hotel, supposedly on a fishing trip, are actually notorious fugitive gangster Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) and his gang. The gangsters have crossed by boat from Cuba, where Rocco is living in exile, to make a "delivery". Once Rocco's identity is revealed by McCloud, the mobsters drop the pretense and take over the hotel, keeping McCloud, Temple and Nora at bay with the threat of violence; meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing up, heading in the direction of the Key.
After a local deputy is subdued and captured by the gang, Frank rejects an apparent opportunity to kill Rocco when the gangster throws him a pistol and dares him to shoot. McCloud's unwillingness to act raises doubts about his courage, but Rocco's abasement of his alcoholic mistress, singer Gaye Dawn (Claire Trevor), and his hand in the murders of the deputy and two local Indians convinces Frank that Rocco must be stopped. His chance comes when Rocco forces Frank to pilot the gang's boat back to Cuba. Once at sea, Frank kills off each member of the gang one-by-one, ending with Rocco. The gang dead, he turns the boat back to Key Largo, where Nora awaits him.

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE

This is a fantastic film. I did a blog on it not very long ago. I think Steve Hayes must be stalking me. lol

John F. Kennedy International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am Watching Pan Am and they mentioned it was one month after the death of JFK and it was 1963. Then they touched down and they welcomed the passengers to JFK Airport. This made me wonder when the name was changed so I had to google it.

John F. Kennedy International Airport was originally known as Idlewild Airport (IATA: IDL, ICAO: KIDL, FAA LID: IDL) after the Idlewild Golf Course that it displaced. The airport was originally envisioned as a reliever for LaGuardia Airport, which had insufficient capacity in the late 1930s. Construction began in 1943 by local firms such as the Edenwald Group headed by the late Charles Follini Sr., a decorated former FDNY fireman; about $60 million was initially spent, but only 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land on the site of the Idlewild golf course were earmarked for use.^[7]it.
The project was renamed Major General Alexander E. Anderson Airport in 1943 after a Queens resident who had commanded a Federalized National Guard unit in the southern United States and who had died in late 1942. In March 1948 the New York City Council again changed the name to New York International Airport, Anderson Field, but the airport was commonly known as "Idlewild" until 1963.^[8]
The Port Authority leased the airport property from the City of New York in 1947 and maintains this lease as of the late 2000s.^[1] The first commercial flight at the airport was on July 1, 1948; the opening ceremony was attended by President Harry Truman.^[7] The Port Authority cancelled foreign airlines' permits to use LaGuardia, effectively forcing them to move to the new airport during the next couple of years.^[9]
The airport opened with six runways and a seventh under construction;^[10] runways 1L and 7L were held in reserve and never came into use as runways. Runway 31R (originally 8,000 ft/2,438 m) is still in use; runway 31L (originally 9,500 ft/2,896 m) opened soon after the rest of the airport and is still in use; runway 1R closed in the 1950s and runway 7R closed around 1966. Runway 4 (originally 8,000 ft, now runway 4L) opened June 1949 and runway 4R was added ten years later.
The Avro Jetliner landed at Idlewild on April 18, 1950 and maybe in January 1951; a Caravelle prototype was the next jet airliner to land at Idlewild, on May 2, 1957. Later in 1957 the USSR sought approval for two Tu-104 flights carrying Soviet diplomats to Idlewild; the Port Authority did not allow them, saying noise tests had to be done first. (The Caravelle had been tested at Paris.)
The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963, one month after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.^[11]

for more info follow the link.
John F. Kennedy International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Currently Watching - Something Borrowed (2011)

I know a romantic comedy is not the best thing to watch when I am feeling sad and emotional and it is raining outside but this is such a cute film. I love everyone but hands down John Krasinski steals every scine. There is one point when he walks into the kitchen and he does not say a word and no one speaks to him and I would still give him an oscar. Maybe I just have the hots for him....I don't know. lol

Rachel White (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a single, cute attorney working in a New York law firm. After too many drinks on her 30th birthday, Rachel grabs a cab with Dex (Colin Egglesfield) and playfully reveals she has had a crush on him since law school. The problem is, Dex is also her best friend Darcy's (Kate Hudson) fiancé. They wake up in bed together the next morning to Darcy calling both of their phones. Dex sneaks out and they do not have time to speak about what happened between them. What Rachel thinks is a one night stand, is actually the beginning of an emotional roller coaster once Dex tells Rachel he is in love with her. What also follows is a web of lies created by Rachel and Dex to Darcy and several others. Rachel continuously conjures up false stories of sexual relationships with Ethan and Marcus to cover up her sexual encounters with Dex.
Ethan (John Krasinski) has been friends with Darcy and Rachel since childhood. He is the only one who knows what has happened between Rachel and Dex, which he is reluctantly keeping a secret.
Meanwhile, Dex’s mother (Jill Eikenberry) has been suffering from depression for some time and Dex and Darcy’s wedding is the only thing keeping her sane and happy.

When Dex skips out on 4 July weekend in the Hamptons to stay in the City and spend time with Rachel, they run into his parents. His father suspects something is going on between the two of them and he tells Dex to end it as soon as possible, saying that what he wants should not be considered a priority when it conflicts with what is right. Considering his mother and father’s feelings, Dex gives Rachel the cold shoulder and leaves her to go back to Darcy (who has been partying the Hamptons all weekend with Dex’s friend, Marcus).
As the wedding nears, Dex and Rachel are speaking less and less. At the beach, their secret is almost revealed by Ethan, who is frustrated with Rachel not taking what she wants and especially lying to people she cares about, but Rachel stops him by hitting him in the face with a badminton racket. This results in his nose becoming very badly broken. Ethan is frustrated with Rachel because she doesn't see that he is the only one who really cares about her. That night at the bar, Rachel finally tells Dex that she wants him to call off the wedding so they can be together, but he tells her that he can't.

Ethan moves to London for a job and Rachel flies out to visit him. He reveals that he loves her and just wants to see her happy, but is sad that Rachel refuses to see what's right in front of her. Rachel returns to New York to find Dex sitting on her doorstep. He reveals that he ended things with Darcy and called off the wedding.
Rachel is ecstatic until Darcy ends up at her door begging to come in to talk. Dex hides and Darcy enters her apartment. She tells Rachel that she ended things with Dex and has been cheating on him with his friend Marcus. She is also pregnant with Marcus’ child and says that they are very happy. Rachel gives her her blessing and Darcy proceeds to leave but only to return and ask what Dex’s jacket is doing in her apartment. Dex then comes out and Darcy figures out Rachel is the other woman. She becomes infuriated and storms out of the apartment, telling Rachel that she hates her.
Two months later, Rachel and Darcy ran into each other on the street. They have not spoken since the incident and Darcy says that she is happy, but doesn't sound so convincing. Rachel is unapologetic for sleeping with Dex, but is sorry for hurting Darcy. As they leave, they turn back and glance at each other, with Darcy smiling and waving. Rachel walks around the corner to Dex sitting on a bench. They walk down the street together.

The film ends with an ambiguous scene during the credits. Darcy shows up to surprise Ethan in London; Ethan tries to ignore her and briskly walks away. The screen turns black with text indicating that the story is to be continued, which may indicate that a movie based on Something Blue, which is the book sequel to Something Borrowed, will follow.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart BREAKES

I am up hours earlier than I normally would be because I had this crazy dream that seemed so very real. I don't really like to post my feelings and emotions like this but this feels like one of those things I should be talking to a therapist about but frankly, I can't afford one so here we are.
I was having this very vivid, very wonderful dream that I was dating this guy. He was a combination of several people i know but looked just like one of my Facebook friends who is happily coupled. (Go figure) This dream seemed like it went on for a long time but at the end of it we were in our house and several of or friends were there but it felt like he and I were getting ready to share a special celebration. He told me that he wanted me to get in the shower and get ready and I could hear him bustling around trying to get everything ready. When i got out of the shower he had the place looking amazing and had a special song playing soft and low in the background. The whole place was lit by candles and our friends were standing around. He took me in his arms and hugged and kissed me and we started dancing. He pulled back a little bit, looked me in the eyes and said "you are the most amazing, wonderful, special person I have ever met and I will love you till the day that I die." I remember feeling uncontrollably happy for a few seconds and I was about to say something when it felt like someone had plunged a knife into my heart and as I am still looking in his eyes I realize this is just a dream. I woke up feeling such loss and disappointment and heartbreak. There are tears streaming down my cheeks and I am sobbing.
I guess I have just been hurt too many times and even though I say I am not interested in a relationship it wold seem that part of me wants one but an even bigger part of me wants to protect myself from more pain. Both of my longest relationships have ended with the guy just looking at me and telling me they want out. No discussion and no trying to work things out just I am bored or not happy with this anymore. That leaves you with a cold heart.
Anyway...I have been up for about an hour now and I have finally stopped crying so I guess writing this down has helped a bit. Now I need coffee...or a drink.  

A blast from the past - Donna Pescow

I am watching Body of Proof and one of the guest stars is Donna Pescow. I had not seen her in years and when I do see her I am taken back to 1979 and Angie. That show was also my first glimpse of Doris Roberts. Anyway, Donna looks amazing and I give her big KUDOS for not having excessive plastic surgery. When you have a nice, full chubby face like Donna and I you don't need all that other crap. Gurl, you look good!

Ti Sposerò - Jovanotti - San Valentino

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!

Jonny McGovern "Man Areas"

Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay: 'White Collar' Actor Thanks Partner Simon Halls, Kids At Awards Ceremony (VIDEO)

I am thrilled! I hate to see someone in the closet. It just isn't healthy. 

Having been the subject of tabloid and blogosphere rumors for some time, Matt Bomer has finally gone public about his sexuality, thanking his partner in an acceptance speech over the weekend.
As Towleroad is reporting, the "White Collar" hunk came out during Saturday's Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, where he received the New Generation Arts and Activism Award for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Upon accepting the award, he thanked his partner Simon Halls and his three children.
"I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry," he told the crowd. "Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."
Bomer, 34, has previously declined to comment on rumors about his love life. "I don't care about that at all," he told Details in 2010. "I'm completely happy and fulfilled in my personal life."

For the full story follow the link below.
Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay: 'White Collar' Actor Thanks Partner Simon Halls, Kids At Awards Ceremony (VIDEO)

STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - SABRINA (1954)

I love Sabrina! And I love the story about Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy. It reminded me of a line from How To Steal A Million where Peter O'Tool dresses Audry up as a scrub woman and she ask why and he said "For one thing it gives Givenchy a night off."

Long Live the Queen!

And no, I am not talking about myself. 

Tributes poured in to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday as she marked 60 years on the throne with a message vowing to continue serving the British people.
Dressed in a Tiffany-blue hat and colorful overcoat against the winter cold, she was greeted by well-wishers in the snow-covered town of King's Lynn at an event planned to mark Accession Day, the anniversary of the day she became queen in 1952.
"I love that the monarchy is above politics and feel that the queen represents that best of all," said Laura Skrzynski, a longtime admirer of Elizabeth who joined the crowd of about 150 people applauding the queen's arrival. "She stands for integrity and respect, and I am inspired by her faith. She has been a constant through all our lives."
Accession Day is usually marked quietly because it also marks the anniversary of the death of Elizabeth's father, King George VI. But it drew extra attention Monday because this year marks the queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. Only Queen Victoria had a longer reign.
Elizabeth said in a message to mark the occasion that she and her husband, Prince Philip, have been "deeply moved" to receive so many kind messages about her Diamond Jubilee.

"I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years," she wrote in a message to the nation.
"In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope that we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighborliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign."

For the full story follow the link.
Queen Celebrates 60 Years on Throne - ABC News

Currently Watching - Rio (2011)

This movie is so cute. It has me laughing out loud! There seems to be a high number of gay characters or am I just seeing them that way?

In Brazil, various exotic birds get smuggled to different countries. In Moose Lake, Minnesota, a crate with a male blue macaw hatchling falls out of a truck into the snow. Linda Gunderson finds and adopts the macaw as her pet, naming him Blu. However, he is unable to fly and is ridiculed by the Canadian Geese that frequent the outside of Linda's bookstore.
One day, ornithologist Túlio Monteiro invites Blu and Linda to Rio de Janeiro, on the condition that Blu mate with a female macaw before his return to Moose Lake, as he is the last male of his species. Linda accepts and the three are flown to Rio, where Blu meets a Red-crested Cardinal named Pedro and his Yellow Canary friend Nico. He is taken to Túlio's aviary, and falls in love with Jewel, a fiercely independent blue macaw longing to flee into the wilderness. The macaws are captured by Fernando, an impoverished boy, and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo named Nigel, both of whom work for a group of smugglers led by Marcel. Nigel tells the macaws that he vowed to smuggle exotic birds after his role had been replaced on a television program. Blu and Jewel flee into a jungle.
Fernando meets Linda and Túlio, explaining that Marcel forced him to capture birds, before cooperating with the two to find Blu. The macaws meet a Toco toucan named Rafael, who offers to take them to his bulldog friend Luiz to remove a chain connected to their legs. He tries to teach Blu how to fly, before the three meet Pedro and Nico. Nigel hires a horde of thieving marmosets led by Mauro to capture Blu and Jewel. Pedro and Nico take Blu and Jewel to a bird's Rio-style party, where they perform a duet, but are attacked by the marmosets. Their bird friends fight them, then the five flee. Linda and Túlio are taken to the smugglers hideout. Marcel explains that he will use the Rio Carnival to capture Blu and Jewel.
Meanwhile, Blu and the others meet Luiz, who releases the chain holding Blu and Jewel using his drool. The macaws, after a falling out, decide to go their separate ways. When Blu and Rafael learn from Pedro and Nico that Nigel captured Jewel, the four rush to the carnival to rescue her, while Linda and Túlio organize a rescue attempt on the birds.
While Linda and Túlio pose as dancers in blue macaw costumes, Marcel uses Nigel to capture the birds. On board Marcel's Short SC.7 Skyvan, the macaws release the captive birds out of the plane, but Nigel injures Jewel while fighting with Blu. Blu uses a fire extinguisher to send Nigel into the propeller of the plane's engine, and the smugglers flee. Unable to fly, Jewel slips out of the plane and falls towards the ocean. Blu jumps out of the plane to rescue Jewel, and finally discovers that he is able to fly. Later, Linda, Túlio and Fernando heal Jewel and organize a sanctuary to protect the jungle from smugglers. Blu and Jewel raise three chicks together and celebrate with their bird friends, Nigel is ridiculed for his loss of feathers, and the smugglers are sent to jail.

Currently Watching - Letters to Juliet (2010)

If you like a good chick flick like I do you will love this film. It is charming and Vanessa Redgrave is luminous! I adore her.

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is a young American woman who works for The New Yorker as a fact checker. To put some spark in her life, she decides to go on a 'pre-honeymoon' with her chef fiancé Victor (Gael García Bernal) to Verona, Italy. However the workaholic Victor is unmoved by the romance of Italy and utilizes his time to rather do research for his soon-to-open restaurant, ignoring Sophie. The lonely Sophie discovers by chance an unanswered "letter to Juliet" by a Claire Smith from 1957—one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by the "secretaries of Juliet". She answers it and soon enough the now elderly Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) arrives in Verona with her handsome barrister grandson Charlie (Chris Egan), who works for human rights.
Claire and Sophie take an instant liking to each other with Charlie behaving very brusquely with Sophie while she is very sarcastic with him. On the other hand, Claire is still looking to rediscover her long lost love, Lorenzo Bartolini (Franco Nero). Sophie, thinking Claire's story might help her with her writing career, decides to help Claire in her quest. What happens next is a story of romantic twists and turns. They find out that there are multiple Lorenzo Bartolinis and must figure out which one is Claire's love. After many days of searching for the right one, they find that one of the Lorenzo Bartolinis is dead. An angry Charlie blames Sophie for his grandmother's sadness. He accuses her of not knowing what real loss is, which causes an upset Sophie to walk away. Claire, seeing the little dispute, tells Charlie that he was wrong and that Sophie's mother had walked away from her when she was a little girl. The next day, Claire insists that Charlie apologize to Sophie at breakfast, and he does. After dinner, Sophie goes out with Charlie and talks to him about love, and the two share a kiss. The next morning, is their last day of searching for Claire's long lost love. On a whim, Claire points out a vineyard to Charlie and asks if he could stop by so the three of them can have a farewell drink for Sophie. As Charlie drives down the road, Claire sees a young man who looks exactly like her Lorenzo. She yells at Charlie to stop, and he complies. They discover that the man is Lorenzo Bartolini's grandson. Claire and Lorenzo reunite after fifty long years.

Back in New York, Sophie breaks up with Victor before returning to Verona to attend Claire and Lorenzo's wedding. She finds Charlie there with another woman, Patricia, and runs out. Charlie comes to find her (in a classic balcony setting) and she admits she loves him, but tells him to go back to his date. Telling Sophie that the woman was actually his cousin Patricia, not his ex-girlfriend Patricia, he tells her he loves her and wants to be with her. He accidentally falls off the balcony and they kiss as he is lying on the ground.

Currently Watching - The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

Angela Lansbury is absolutely beautiful in this film. For Murder She Wrote fans, you will recognize the song she sings in this film. She also sang it as her cousin Emma McGill on the TV show. Angela was just 19 when she made this film and she was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress. This was her second nomination, the first was for Gaslight.

Dorian Gray is a handsome, wealthy young man living in 19th century London. While generally intelligent, he is naive and easily manipulated. These faults lead to his spiral into sin and, ultimately, misery.
While posing for a painting by his friend Basil, Dorian meets Basil's friend Lord Henry Wotton. Wotton is cynical and witty, and tells Dorian that the only life worth living is one dedicated entirely to pleasure. After Wotton convinces Dorian that youth and beauty will bring him everything he desires, Dorian openly wishes that his portrait could age instead of him. He makes this statement in the presence of a certain Egyptian statue, which supposedly has the power to grant wishes.
Dorian visits a tavern, where he falls in love with a beautiful singer named Sibyl Vane. He eventually enters a romance with her (much to the disapproval of Sibyl's brother), and within weeks they are engaged. Though initially overjoyed, Dorian is again persuaded by Lord Henry to pursue a more hedonistic lifestyle. Dorian sends Sibyl a hurtful letter, breaking off their relationship, and "compensating" her with a large sum of money.
The next morning, Lord Henry informs Dorian that a heartbroken Sibyl Vane had killed herself the night before. Dorian is at first shocked and guilt-ridden, but then adopts Lord Henry's indifferent manner. He surprises Basil by going to the opera immediately after hearing of Sibyl's death. Returning home that night, Dorian notices a change in the portrait Basil had painted, which now hangs in his living room. The portrait now looks harsher, and a shaken Dorian has it locked away in his old school room. He becomes even more dedicated to living a sinful and heartless life.

Years later, Dorian is nearing his fortieth birthday, but he looks the same as he did when he was twenty two. The townspeople are awestruck at his unchanging appearance. Over eighteen years of pointless debauchery, the portrait remained locked away, with Dorian holding the only key. Dorian had grown more and more paranoid about the picture being seen by others, and would even fire the servants that he thought might suspect something. Over the years, the painting of the young Dorian had warped into that of a hideous, demon-like creature, to reflect Dorian's sins. Basil eventually catches a glimpse of the portrait and attempts to talk Dorian into reforming his life. However, Dorian panics and murders his friend, leaving the body locked in the school room with the painting.

Dorian blackmails an old friend into disposing of Basil's body secretly. He then enters into a romance with Basil's niece, Gladys, who was a young child when the portrait was painted. Though Gladys had always loved Dorian (and is overjoyed when he proposes marriage), those who were once close to him begin to find him suspicious.
Dorian begins to realize the harm his life is doing to himself and to others. He is assaulted by James Vane, Sibyl's brother, who had sworn revenge for his sister's death. Dorian calmly tells James that he is too young to be the same man from eighteen years before. However, James soon learns the truth, but is shot during a hunting party at Dorian's estate while hiding in the bushes. Dorian knows he is guilty for yet another death, and realizes that he can still spare Gladys from the misfortune he would certainly cause her. After leaving her a letter explaining himself, he returns to his old school room to face the painting. After stabbing his portrait in the heart to be free of its evil spell, Dorian collapses and dies.
Dorian's body is found, but it is now the monstrous creature from the painting. The portrait once again depicts Dorian as a young, innocent man.

Currently Watching - Come to the Stable (1949)

This is a sweet little film. Celeste Holm and Elsa Lanchester are wonderful!

One winter's night, two French nuns, Sister Margaret and Sister Scholastica, come to the small New England town of Bethlehem (most likely modeled after Bethlehem, Connecticut --given the Abbey of Regina Laudis in that real town and the proximity to New York City), where they meet Amelia Potts, a painter of religious pictures. The Sisters announce that they have come to build a hospital there, and Chicago-born Sister Margaret explains that during the war she was in charge of a children's hospital in Normandy when it became a potential target during a military campaign. As many of the children could not be evacuated, Sister Margaret made a personal plea to an American general not to shell the hospital, which the Germans were using as an observation post. The hospital was spared but at the cost of American lives, and Sister Margaret made a promise to God that, in gratitude for saving the children, she would return to America to build a children's hospital.
When Miss Potts is puzzled as to why they chose Bethlehem, and Sister Margaret tells her that they had received a postcard with a reproduction of a nativity scene painted by Miss Potts, entitled "Come to the Stable," with information about the Bethlehem area. The Sisters then decide that a local hill depicted in another of Miss Potts's paintings would be a good site for the hospital.
After composer Bob Mason, who is Miss Potts's neighbor and landlord, tells the Sisters that the hill is owned by Luigi Rossi of New York, the Sisters go to see the Bishop in a nearby city. He is unable to help them with their project, but does give them a small amount of money to tide them over. When they return to Bethlehem, Bob's religious porter, Anthony James, offers them a ride from the railroad station in Bob's jeep (he continues to help them throughout the movie).
As Sister Margaret learned to drive a jeep during the war, they arrange to borrow the jeep to go to New York City to find Mr. Rossi and ask him to donate his land. Rossi runs a "bookie" operation and, despite his security, the Sisters manage to see him. However, he tells the Sisters that he intends to build his retirement home on the site. As they prepare to leave, Sister Margaret notices a picture and they learn that Rossi's son was killed in action near their hospital in Rouen. The sisters then tell Luigi they will pray for his son. Suddenly, Rossi changes his mind and informs them that, if they will install a stained glass window in the hospital in memory of his son, the land is theirs.
Elated, they return to Bethlehem, where Bob and his girl friend, Kitty Blaine, are listening to a demo of a new song he has composed and the Sisters come to thank him for the use of the jeep. Bob then announces that he will be going to Hollywood for a few weeks to work on a picture.
The Sisters acquire for $5,000 a three-month option on a former witch-hazel bottling plant opposite the Rossi property for use as a temporary shelter to stage the construction of the hospital. However, when the Bishop looks over the papers, he discovers that the purchase price carries a $25,000 mortgage, significantly more than the operating funds the Sisters have available. He tells the Sisters that he will have to cancel the contract, but at that moment, eleven more nuns and a chaplain arrive from France, having been previously summoned by the Sisters following their success. The Bishop relents, allowing them to stay for the period of the option with the understanding that if they cannot raise the additional money within that time they must all leave, but later remarks to his monsignor assistant that he feels unstoppable forces at work.
When Bob returns from Hollywood with Kitty and three house guests he discovers the now increased number of nuns having a produce-and-arts sale in Miss Potts's yard, and Bob insists that she evict all the nuns. On the day before the option is to lapse, the nuns find themselves $500 short of the necessary amount. That evening, after Kitty performs Bob's new song for his guests, they hear the nuns singing a hymn which they recognize to be similar to Bob's song. Concerned about the allusions to plagiarism, Bob swears that he first thought of the tune after his Army outfit landed in France four years earlier, but guest Al Newman, a music critic, identifies the melody as a 2000-year-old Gregorian Chant.
The next morning, after Sisters Margaret and Scholastica accidentally drive a stake through Bob's water line, he visits the real estate agent and arranges to buy the witch-hazel plant in order to keep it out of the nuns' hands. Sister Margaret, meanwhile, discovers Bob's guests playing doubles tennis and arranges a wager for $500 if Sister Scholastica can help Al beat the other couple. Although Sister Scholastica is a former tennis champion, she loses the match.
Later, after Sister Margaret tells the Sisters that they must leave, Bob apologetically comes to bid them goodbye and overhears their prayers, discovering that their Mother House is in Normandy, near where he was stationed. When the Sisters ask him to pray for them, Bob is moved to change his mind about their project, and the film ends with Bob, Kitty, Miss Potts, Mr. Rossi and the Bishop all attending the dedication of the temporary home of the hospital of St. Jude.

Currently Watching - The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

WOW...I can't believe this was released in 2004. Time flies by so fast! Anyway, being the theater geek that I am I love the stage version but I think the movie did a decent job. There were some things I missed but I have to say that the bell of the ball is Minni Driver as Carlotta not to mention the woman who sang the Carlotta part. I have known more than one over the top diva like that in my life.

In 1919, the Paris Opera House is holding an auction. Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick Wilson), an elderly wheelchair-bound man, purchases a music box in a form of a monkey in Persian robes clapping cymbals when it operates. He spots a familiar figure, Madame Giry (Miranda Richardson) the former ballet mistress. Their attention is drawn to "Lot 666, a chandelier in pieces", partially restored for the auction. As the chandelier is revealed and raised to the ceiling, the film shifts to 1870 when the opera house was in its prime.

The Phantom (Butler), a disfigured musical genius, haunts the Opera House. Tormented by his deformed face due to his memories of being abused in his youth, he hides in its catacombs. He falls in love with a young soprano, Christine Daaé (Rossum), and secretly tutors her singing. Christine believes he is the "Angel of Music", sent by her deceased father from heaven to guide her. The Phantom devotes himself to making Christine the new opera star. After he drives off the opera's current lead soprano, Carlotta Giudecelli (Driver), Christine replaces her, making herself a huge success. Raoul, Christine's childhood friend, recognises her and is very impressed. In her dressing room, Christine tells him that the Angel of Music has visited her. Raoul insists they go to dinner but she refuses, saying that the Angel would disapprove. Once Raoul leaves, The Phantom, under the guise of the Angel of Music, speaks to Christine and expresses his dislike for Raoul. Christine pleads for him to show himself and he reveals himself in her mirror and takes her to his lair. There he beseeches her to sing for him and shows a life–size doll resembling her in a wedding dress. Christine faints and The Phantom carries her to a bed.

The next morning, Christine awakens, sneaks up behind The Phantom, and out of curiosity, takes off his mask. He rages at her but later calms down, explaining that he only wants to be normal like everybody else and hopes that she'll learn to love him despite his deformity. Meanwhile, the stage hand, Joseph Buquet (McNally), scares the ballet girls by telling them tales of the Opera Ghost only to be scolded by Madame Giry. The managers Firmin and Andre (Hinds and Callow), Raoul, and Carlotta are puzzled by several notes from The Phantom whom they all accuse each other of being. Madame Giry delivers one more demanding that Christine play the lead role of the countess and Carlotta be placed in the secondary role of the mute pageboy in the next opera II Muto. The managers assure an enraged Carlotta that she will be in the lead role despite Madame Giry's warnings. The performance goes well at first, until The Phantom angrily booms out that they did not leave box 5 empty for his use as he ordered. They nervously continue with the performance until The Phantom reduces Carlotta's voice to frog–like croak. The managers apologise and promise to continue the performance in ten minutes with Christine in the lead role. Meanwhile they perform the ballet of Act III to entertain the waiting audience until The Phantom kills Buquet with The Punjab Lasso and his corpse drops from the rafters. Christine and Raoul flee to the roof of the Opera House where she tells him about her encounter with The Phantom. Although Raoul doesn't believe her, he promises to love and protect her. The Phantom, having overheard them, is heartbroken and vows revenge on Raoul.

Three months later at the Masquerade Ball, Christine and Raoul are now engaged and The Phantom has not appeared since the performance disaster. The celebration is then interrupted when he suddenly appears. He insults the managers, Carlotta, and her lover, Piangi (McGuire). He then announces that he has written an Opera, "Don Juan Triumphant," and demands they perform it and Christine be put in the lead. Afterwards, he snatches her engagement ring from around her neck, saying she belongs to him before he vanishes down a trap door. Raoul attempts to follow him but is saved by Madame Giry. He demands she tell him about The Phantom. She reluctantly tells him he is a magician and a musical genius born with a deformed face whom she helped escape from a traveling fair where he was abused as the "devil's child" and hide in the Opera House when he was a child.
Christine, troubled, visits her father's tomb, wishing he were alive and longing for his support. Unbeknownst to her, The Phantom has taken her to the cemetery. Again under the guise of the Angel of Music, he attempts to lure her back to him. Christine easily succumbs but Raoul brings her back to reality. A vicious sword fight breaks out between the two men. Raoul is about to kill The Phantom when Christine begs him not to and they escape back to the opera. The Phantom glares after them saying: "Now, let it be war upon you BOTH!" Raoul and the managers hatch a plan to capture The Phantom during "Don Juan Triumphant," knowing that if Christine sings, he is certain to attend. However, Christine is caught between her love for Raoul and her feelings for The Phantom and does not want to go through with the Opera because she is afraid The Phantom will capture her.

During the performance, Christine realises she is not singing with Piangi, the lead tenor, but with The Phantom. The Phantom expresses his love for her, but Christine suddenly takes off his mask and wig, reavealing his deformed face to a horrified audience. The Phantom angrily sends the chandelier plummeting down to the audience--setting the Opera House on fire--and abducts Christine by escaping down a shaft through the stage. Carlotta bursts into tears when Piangi is found dead backstage; the audience flees the Opera House and Madame Giry leads Raoul to The Phantom's lair. Raoul falls into a death trap and nearly drowns but manages to escape.
Forced to put on the wedding dress, he says his face prevents him from hurting her. Christine tells him she's not afraid of his face but of his soul. Raoul arrives and begs him to let her go. The Phantom allows him entry but snares him in the Punjab Lasso. He then gives Christine a choice: if she chooses The Phantom, he will let Raoul go but Christine must stay with him; if she refuses, he will let her go but Raoul will die. Conflicted, Christine passionately kisses The Phantom. Having experienced kindness for the first time, he lets both Christine and Raoul go. They leave together in his boat but Christine shortly returns to give his ring back. He tells her he loves her and she forces herself to turn away. She and Raoul leave singing to each other. Heartbroken, The Phantom grabs a candelabra and smashes a mirror then disappears through the frame into a secret tunnel. When the mob arrives, Meg (Jennifer Ellison), Christine's friend and Madame Giry's daughter, finds only his mask as she enters the tunnel.
The scene then shifts back to 1919, the music box fades to black and white. Raoul places it on Christine's tombstone, on which he sees a red rose tied with a black ribbon (The Phantom's trademark) and also the engagement ring that the Phantom gave her indicating that he still and always will love Christine.

Currently Watching - The Tourist (2010)

Angelina Jolie is stunning in this movie. Good movie, beautifully shot.

The movie opens with Elise (Angelina Jolie) being followed by French Police, working with Scotland Yard under the direction of Inspector John Acheson (Paul Bettany). Acheson has spent years hunting Elise's old lover, Alexander Pearce, who owes £744 million in back taxes and is believed to have received 20 million dollars worth of plastic surgery to alter his appearance completely. At a cafe, Elise receives written instructions from Pearce: board a train to Venice, pick out a man who resembles Pearce, and make the police believe that this decoy is Pearce himself. Elise burns the note, then manages to evade the police and board the train. On the train, Elise picks Frank (Johnny Depp), an American high school teacher. She spends much time with him, seeming to start a romance. In the meanwhile, the police have managed to salvage the ashes of her burned note and assembled them to extract information regarding her rendezvous as well as her ruse. But an informer from the police station mistakenly communicates to Reginald Shaw (Steven Berkoff), a gangster from whom Pearce as accountant stole $2.3 billion, that Pearce is travelling with Elise on the train to Venice. Shaw immediately proceeds to Venice.

Elise invites Frank to stay with her at the hotel room that has been arranged for her in Venice. Pearce leaves further instructions for Elise to attend a ball. Elise abandons Frank, who is then chased by Shaw's men. While trying to escape from them, Frank is detained by the Italian police ostensibly for his own safety, only to have a corrupt inspector turn him over to Shaw's men in exchange for the bounty that has been placed on Pearce's head. Elise rescues Frank just before he is handed over, leading Shaw's men on an extended boat chase and escaping. She leaves Frank at the airport with his passport and money, urging him to go home for his own safety.
Elise is revealed to be a Scotland Yard undercover agent who may have become Pearce's ally. Because of her fears for Frank, she agrees to participate in a sting operation. At the ball, as Elise wanders around trying to spot Pearce in the crowd, an envelope is placed on the table in front of her by a man who then quickly disappears into the crowd. Elise sees that the envelope is for her, and believes that the man must be Pearce himself. She tries to follow him through the crowd, calling out his name, but is stopped by Frank who has managed to enter inside under a pretext.
Frank claims to be in love with her, and invites her to dance with him. But he is hauled away by the police, while Elise opens the envelope and finds a note mentioning a rendezvous point. She then heads off in her boat to this new rendezvous point. Shaw and his men tail her in their boat; both parties are followed discreetly by the police boat in which Frank is held handcuffed to stop him from obstructing the investigation.

When Elise arrives at the destination, Shaw takes her prisoner, threatening to harm her unless she reveals the location of the stolen money. The police monitor the situation inside the rendezvous room through audio and video links. Despite Elise's peril, Inspector Acheson repeatedly turns down police requests to intervene with their snipers. While the police are occupied in monitoring the situation, Frank escapes from the police boat and confronts Shaw, claiming to be Pearce who has undergone plastic surgery and offering to open the safe if Elise is allowed to leave safely. Shaw is skeptical and makes a counter offer that Frank should open the safe if he does not want to see Elise being cut up. Chief Inspector Jones (Timothy Dalton) arrives at the police stake-out, overrides Acheson, and orders the police snipers to fire into the room, killing Shaw and his men. Jones lifts Elise's suspension and also terminates her employment.

Acheson receives a radio message that Pearce has been found not far from the rendezvous point, and rushes to the location where police have detained the suspect. But the man claims to be just a tourist who has merely been following instructions texted to his mobile phone, to be present at certain locations, for which he has been receiving payments. Meanwhile, Elise tells Frank that she loves him, but she also loves Pearce. Frank then suggests a "solution" to this dilemma; to Elise's surprise, he opens the safe by entering the correct code, thus revealing that he is really Alexander Pearce. He and Elise then take the money and depart, leaving a cheque in the safe for the full amount of the taxes he owes. The police find the cheque when they return and blow the safe open. Acheson now realizes that Frank has indeed been Pearce all along, and wants to pursue him; but Jones determines that, with the taxes now paid fully, Pearce's only crime is that he stole money from a now-dead gangster. Jones orders the case to be closed. Frank and Elise sail away to a new life together, with Elise taking in and getting used to the new and completely altered face of her old lover.

Currently Watching - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

The film is fantastic but everyone should really read the book.

Clint Eastwood’s adaptation of this non-fictional novel about a murder case in Savannah is driven mostly by its rich variety of characters. John Cusack plays a young journalist hired to cover a Christmas party in the high society of Savanna Georgia. Academy award winner Kevin Spacey is the rich man hosting this annual celebration, who is also an admirer Cusack’s work. After over a half-hour of being introduced to the elaborate setting and bizarre community of modern Savannah, the story finally begins, when Spacey shoots and kills Judd Nelson, his young helper/ lover of at the Christmas Party. Because there are no witnesses, it becomes a mystery that Cusack tries to uncover himself, however the question is not "who killed him", but whether or not it was in self-defense.
Unfortunately, this question does not generate enough drama to keep an audience intrigued for over two and1/2 hours, but Eastwood does know how to give a sense of time and location. His use of color and set is successful in that the audience is given time to absorb Thompson’s unique surroundings and get a sense of the community. He creates a somewhat alien environment by immediately mixing giant willow trees and upper class citizens walking invisible dogs through beautiful parks, statue fountains and foggy cemeteries. What helps keep the audience entertained is the large display of memorable characters Cusack meets while investigating Nelson’s death. He meets a sassy transvestite, a man who attaches his pet flies to himself with strings and claims to carry enough poison in his pocket to terminate the entire town, a voodoo witch doctor who Spacey uses for black magic assistance, Spacey’s heavy set lawyer and an energetic love interest played by Alison Eastwood.
John Cusack, who is in many people’s opinions one of the most over looked actors in Hollywood, delivers a very restrained performance. This is a good thing because he knows not to over act, especially with the character he is portraying. However, the character doesn’t bring much excitement to the screen. Kevin Spacey is successful in sounding like a native of Savannah, and compliments the movie and its setting.
It is an ensemble cast in an interesting setting, with great visuals, but the movie drags on for too long in an attempt to make a rather simple plot more intriguing. Had the film been shorter with more editing it might have been able to maintain the attention of the audience through out the whole thing. But the really interesting scenes are a bit too selective and it is easy to lose interest then regain it several times in two and ½ hours. There is some chemistry between John Cusack and Alison Eastwood, but it’s the scenes between their affair in where Spacey revisits the night of the murder that keeps us interested.